Apparatus and method for securing and repositioning a door on a combustion device

ABSTRACT

A method of securing a door on a combustion device, such as a boiler, using a bracket that may be removed from the combustion device without fully unfastening a fastener that fastens the bracket to the combustion device. Also, a method for repositioning a door on a combustion device, wherein the above-mentioned bracket is used. In addition, a combustion device for implementing either of the above-mentioned methods.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to combustion devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for securing and repositioning doors on combustion devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Combustion devices according to the prior art, such as boilers and heaters, typically have fixed dimensions, configurations and geometries. As such, the doors of prior art combustion devices are configured either to open from left to right or from right to left.

Unfortunately, designing a combustion device such that the door thereof opens either from left to right or from right to left does not take into account that the device may be situated in a manner that makes it inconvenient to open the door in that manner. For example, if the right side of a combustion device is in direct contact with a wall, it is inconvenient to open the door from left to right and it would be more convenient to have the door open from right to left.

At least in view of the above, methods and/or an apparatuses that allow for the doors of combustion devices to be repositioned would be desirable. It would also be desirable for these methods and apparatuses to be convenient and cost-effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention wherein, in one embodiment, a method of securing a door on a combustion device is provided. The method includes at least partially fastening a first fastener to a first surface of a combustion device. The method also includes positioning a bracket adjacent to the first surface of the combustion device such that a portion of the first fastener protrudes through a first portion of an opening in the bracket. The method further includes sliding the bracket parallel to the first surface of the combustion device, thereby causing the portion of the first fastener to protrude through a second portion of the opening in the bracket, wherein the second portion of the opening is smaller than the first portion of the opening. In addition, the method also includes fully fastening the first fastener to the first surface of the combustion device pursuant to sliding the bracket. Also, the method includes attaching a door to the bracket, such that the bracket secures the door to the combustion device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of repositioning a door on a combustion device is provided. The method includes at least partially unfastening a first fastener that secures a bracket to a first region of a combustion device. The method also includes sliding the bracket in a direction parallel to a first surface of the combustion device to remove the bracket from the first fastener. The method further includes securing the bracket to a second region of the combustion device by full fastening a second fastener at the second region of the combustion device.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a combustion device is provided. The combustion device includes a bracket positioned adjacent to a surface of a combustion device and configured to support a door adjacent to the combustion device. The device also includes a first fastener configured to fasten the bracket to a first portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein a portion of the first fastener protrudes through the bracket, and wherein the bracket may be removed from the combustion device when the first fastener is partially fastened. The device further includes a second fastener configured to fasten the bracket to a second portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein the second fastener protrudes through the bracket when the bracket is positioned at the second portion of the combustion device.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, another combustion device is provided. This device includes bracketing means for supporting a door, wherein the bracketing means is adjacent to a surface of a combustion device. The device also includes first fastening means for fastening the bracketing means to a first portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein a portion of the first fastening means extends through the bracketing means and wherein the bracketing means may be removed from the combustion device when the first fastening means is partially fastened. The device further includes second fastening means for fastening the bracketing means to a second portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein the second fastening means protrudes through the bracketing means when the bracketing means is positioned at the second portion of the surface of the combustion device.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a combustion device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a section of the combustion device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bracket illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein both ends of the bracket have been flattened out to better illustrate the geometry of the bracket;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating steps that may be followed in accordance with one embodiment of a method or a process according to the present invention for securing a door on a combustion device; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating steps that may be followed in accordance with one embodiment of a method or process according to the present invention for repositioning a door on a combustion device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least in view of the above shortcomings of the prior art, novel devices, systems and methods have been developed to secure and reposition a door on a combustion device. Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a combustion device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a section of combustion device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. Combustion device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a boiler. However, this is not particularly limiting of the present invention and other combustion devices, such as heaters, are also within the scope of the present invention.

On the left side of FIG. 1, bracket 12 is illustrated as being positioned adjacent to the front surface 14 of combustion device 10. Typically, bracket 12 is configured to support a door (illustrated in FIG. 2 as element 16) that is positioned adjacent to and, when in a closed position, in front of front surface 14 of combustion device 10. Generally, one side of door 16 is affixed to bracket 12 and door 16 swings away from front surface 14 of combustion device 10 when being opened, as will be detailed below.

A plurality of fasteners 18 are also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each fastener 18 is configured to fasten bracket 12 to a portion of front surface 14 of combustion device 10. In FIG. 1, bracket 12 is illustrated as being fastened to a left-side portion 20 of front surface 14 of combustion device 10 by two screws 18. However, any number of screws 18 or other fasteners 18 such as, for example, bolts, clips and clamps, may be used to fasten bracket 12 to combustion device 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a portion 22 of each fastener 18 may extend or protrude through bracket 12 when bracket 12 is fixed or partially fixed relative to combustion device 10. If a screw 18 is used as fastener 18, the head portion 24 of the screw 18 is typically positioned on one side of bracket 12 and the threaded portion 22 of the screw 18 extends or protrudes through bracket 12 and into combustion device 10. Tightening of the screw 18 then secures bracket 12 to combustion device 10.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of bracket 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view of bracket 12 illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein both ends 26, 28 of bracket 12 have been flattened out to better illustrate the geometry of bracket 12. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, bracket 12 includes a keyhole slot 30 that has a wider section 32 at the bottom thereof and a narrower section 34 at the top thereof.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a head portion 24 of a bolt, screw or other fastener 18 is configured to travel unencumbered through wider section 32 of keyhole slot 30, but not through narrower portion 34 of keyhole slot 30. Therefore, when a screw 18 is partially screwed into front surface 14 of combustion device 10, wider portion 32 of keyhole slot 30 on bracket 12 maybe aligned with screw head portion 24, bracket 12 may be pushed into contact with front surface 14 of device 10 and bracket 12 may be moved parallel to front surface 14 of device 10 such that part of threaded portion 22 of the screw 18 is protruding from narrower section 34 of slot 30. Following these steps, bracket 12 is partially attached to device 10 because screw head portion 24 is prevented from traveling back through bracket 12.

Based on the above-discussed geometry of bracket 12, one of skill in the art will appreciate that bracket 12 may be removed from combustion device 10 while a fastener 18 that fastens bracket 12 to combustion device 10 is still partially fastened to device 10. More specifically, one of skill in the art will appreciate that, when removing bracket 12 from combustion device 10, a screw 18 may be partially untightened and bracket 12 may be lifted parallel to front surface 14 of device 10 so as to align screw head portion 24 of screw 18 with wider section 32 of keyhole slot 30 on bracket 12. Then, bracket 12 may be pulled away from device 10 while screw 18 is still partially screwed into device 10.

Bracket 12 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 also includes another slot 36 that is configured to allow for a head portion 24 of a fastener 18 to be positioned on one side of bracket 12 and for another portion 22 (e.g., a threaded portion) of fastener 18 to extend through to the other side of bracket 12. As illustrated by slots 30 and 36, no particular restrictions are placed on the dimensions, geometries and/or positioning of slots included in bracket 12. Also, no particular restrictions are placed on the number of slots that may be included in bracket 12, so long as bracket 12 retains its structural integrity.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates bracket 12 in a flattened view, FIG. 3 illustrates that bracket 12 includes two portions 38 and 40 that each extend substantially perpendicularly from a central portion 42 of bracket 12. A hinge slot 44 is included in each of portion 38 and portion 40 and each hinge slot 44 is configured to accommodate the insertion of a tab therethrough. Therefore, when door 16 is configured to have tabs 46 extending from the top and bottom thereof (as illustrated in FIG. 2), tabs 46 on door 16 maybe positioned such that tabs 46 protrude through slots 44, thereby allowing door 16 to swing relative to bracket 12 and combustion device 10.

In FIG. 1, two fasteners 18 are illustrated on the right-hand side of device 10. These two fasteners 18 are configured to allow for the fastening of bracket 12 to a second (i.e., right-side) portion 48 of front surface 14 of combustion device 14. In other words, two fasteners 18 on right-side portion 48 of device 10 may act similarly to the two fastener 18 on left-side portion 20 of device 10 and may secure bracket 12 to device 10 by protruding through bracket 12 when bracket 12 is positioned on the right-side portion 48 of device 10.

FIG. 1 also illustrates jacket 50, which is positioned between bracket 12 and device 10 and which envelops combustion device 10. Jacket 50 typically serves a decorative or aesthetic function. However, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, jacket 50 may also have thermal properties that protect individuals near combustion device 10 from getting burned if they accidentally brush against the device 10. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, fasteners 18 secure jacket 50 to combustion device 10, at least in part.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14, bracket 12 also includes central slot 52, which is typically configured to allow at least a portion of a sealing fastener 54 to extend through bracket 12. Although slot 52 in FIGS. 1-4 is positioned in the middle of bracket 12, this is not particularly limiting of the present invention and slot 52 may be positioned elsewhere. Also, no particular geometric or dimensional constraints are imposed upon slot 52.

FIG. 4 illustrates sealing fastener 54 extending through door 16, bracket 12, jacket 50 and a portion of device 10. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, when in a partially-fastened position, sealing fastener 54 passes/extends/protrudes through central slot 52, door 16, bracket 12, jacket 50 and a portion of combustion device 10. In a filly fastened position, sealing fastener 54 compresses door 16, bracket 12, and jacket 50 against front surface 14 of combustion device 10. The effect of this compression is that a seal is formed between front surface 14 of combustion device 10 and door 16. Once the seal has been formed, liquids and gases within combustion device 10 do not substantially leak out of combustion device 10. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the seal is hermetic.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, another combustion device is provided. This device includes bracketing means for supporting a door, wherein the bracketing means is positioned adjacent to a surface of the combustion device. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the bracketing means may take a form of bracket 12 and need not be directly adjacent to a surface of a combustion device.

First fastening means are also included for fastening the bracketing means to a first portion of the surface of the combustion device. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the first fastening means extends through the bracketing means. Also, the bracketing means may typically be removed from the combustion device when the first fastening means is partially fastened. An example of such first fastening means may take the form of one or more of fasteners 18.

The device also commonly includes second fastening means for fastening the bracketing means to a second portion of the surface of the combustion device. The second fastening means typically protrudes through the bracketing means when the bracketing means is positioned at the second portion of the service of the combustion device. An example of such a second fastening means may take the form of one or more of the fasteners 18 illustrated on the right-hand side of combustion device 10 in FIG. 1. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the second fastening means is configured to be able to release the bracketing means when the second fastening means is still partially fastened.

Also typically included in the above-discussed combustion device is a sealing means for creating a substantial seal between the door and the surface of the combustion device. The sealing means usually extends between the door and the surface of the combustion device. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, sealing fastener 54 may be used as the sealing means.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 56 illustrating steps that may be followed in accordance with one embodiment of a method or a process according to the present invention for securing a door on a combustion device. Step 58 of this method or process specifies partially fastening a first fastener to a first surface of a combustion device. Step 58 may include partially tightening the first fastener, and the first fastener may include, for example, at least one of a bolt or a screw. In other words, according to step 58, a screw or bolt 18 may be partially screwed into front surface 14 of combustion device 10, leaving enough room between the head portion 24 of screw or bolt 18 and front surface 14 of combustion device 2 to accommodate bracket 12 being positioned therebetween.

Step 60 specifies positioning a bracket adjacent to the first surface of the combustion device such that a portion of the partially fastened first fastener protrudes through a first portion of an opening in the bracket. According to certain embodiment of the present invention, during a portion of this positioning step, a fastener 18 may have the head portion 24 thereof sticking through wider section 32 of keyhole slot 30 in bracket 12. Positioning step may thus also include aligning a head portion of the first fastener with the first portion of the opening in the bracket and moving the bracket toward the first surface of the combustion device in a manner that allows the head portion to pass through the first portion of the opening in the bracket.

Pursuant to step 60, step 62 then specifies sliding the bracket parallel to the first surface of the combustion device, thereby causing the portion of the partially fastened first fastener to protrude through a second portion of the opening in the bracket, wherein the second portion of the opening is smaller than the first portion of the opening. With reference to combustion device 10, this step may be performed by sliding bracket 12 down such that at least a portion of fastener 18 extends through narrower section 34 of keyhole slot 30.

Sliding step 62 may also include preventing a portion of the partially fastened first fastener from being able to pass through the second portion of the opening by selecting an appropriately-sized second opening. This portion of sliding step 62 may be performed by appropriately choosing the dimensions of keyhole slot 30 and fastener 18.

In FIG. 5, step 64 specifies fully fastening the first fastener to the first surface of the combustion device pursuant to sliding the bracket according to step 62. Fully fastening step 64 may include tightening the first fastener to prevent the bracket from being moved relative to the first surface of the combustion device. It should be understood by those of skill in the art that, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the first fastener need only be tightened enough to prevent motion of the bracket under ordinary use of a combustion device.

Step 66 next specifies attaching a door to the bracket, such that the bracket secures the door to the combustion device. Attaching step 66 may include, for example, inserting a tab on a door into a slot on the bracket, thereby allowing the door to swing relative to the first surface of the combustion device. Hinge slots 44 on bracket 12 may be used as the slots according to this inserting step. Also, it should be noted that door 16 may have tabs 46 that are either built into door 16 or that are affixed to door 16.

Following step 66, step 68 specifies creating a substantial seal between the door and the first surface of the combustion device. Creating step 68 may include compressing the door and the first surface of the combustion device using a second fastener, such as sealing fastener 54, that extends at least from the door to the first surface of the combustion device. The seal created may optionally be a hermetic or substantially hermetic seal.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart 70 illustrating steps that may be followed in accordance with one embodiment of a method or process according to the present invention for repositioning a door on a combustion device. Step 72 in FIG. 6 specifies breaking a substantial seal between a bracket and a door by removing a first fastener that extends from the door to a surface of a combustion device. Step 74 then specifies detaching a door from the bracket. Next, step 76 specifies partially unfastening a second fastener that secures the bracket to a first region of the combustion device.

Following step 76, step 78 specifies sliding the bracket in a direction parallel to the surface of the combustion device to remove the bracket from the second fastener. Step 80 then specifies partially unfastening a third fastener at a second region of the combustion device.

Following step 80, step 82 specifies securing the bracket to a second region of the combustion device by fully fastening the third fastener at the second region of the combustion device. Step 84 then specifies reattaching the door to the bracket pursuant to securing the bracket to the second region of the combustion device. Lastly, step 86 specifies recreating the substantial seal by compressing the door and the first surface of the combustion device using the first fastener once the bracket is secured to the second region of the combustion device. After having conducted the steps of the method disclosed in FIG. 6, the door of a combustion device typically will have been switched, for example, between opening from left to right to opening from right to left.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A method of securing a door on a combustion device, the method comprising: at least partially fastening a first fastener to a first surface of a combustion device; positioning a bracket adjacent to the first surface of the combustion device such that a portion of the first fastener protrudes through a first portion of an opening in the bracket; sliding the bracket parallel to the first surface of the combustion device, thereby causing the portion of the first fastener to protrude through a second portion of the opening in the bracket, wherein the second portion of the opening is smaller than the first portion of the opening; fully fastening the first fastener to the first surface of the combustion device pursuant to sliding the bracket; and attaching a door to the bracket, such that the bracket secures the door to the combustion device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least partially fastening step comprises partially tightening the first fastener, wherein the first fastener comprises at least one of a bolt or a screw.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning step comprises: aligning a head portion of the first fastener with the first portion of the opening in the bracket; and moving the bracket toward the first surface of the combustion device in a manner that allows the head portion to pass through the first portion of the opening in the bracket.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sliding step further comprises: preventing the portion of the partially fastened first fastener from being able to pass completely through the second portion of the opening by selecting an appropriately-sized second opening.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fully fastening step comprises tightening the first fastener to prevent the bracket from being moved relative to the first surface of the combustion device.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the attaching step further comprises: inserting a tab on the door into a slot on the bracket, thereby allowing the door to swing relative to the first surface of the combustion device.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: creating a substantial seal between the door and the first surface of the combustion device.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the creating step comprises compressing the door and the first surface of the combustion device using a second fastener that extends from the door to the first surface of the combustion device.
 9. A method of repositioning a door on a combustion device, the method comprising: at least partially unfastening a first fastener that secures a bracket to a first region of a combustion device; sliding the bracket in a direction parallel to a first surface of the combustion device to remove the bracket from the first fastener; and securing the bracket to a second region of the combustion device by fully fastening a second fastener at the second region of the combustion device.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: at least partially unfastening the second fastener before securing the bracket.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: detaching a door from the bracket.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: reattaching the door to the bracket pursuant to securing the bracket to the second region of the combustion device.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising: breaking a substantial seal between the bracket and a door by removing a third fastener that extends from the door to the first surface of the combustion device.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: re-creating the substantial seal by compressing the door and the first surface of the combustion device using the third fastener once the bracket is secured to the second region of the combustion device.
 15. A combustion device, comprising: a bracket positioned adjacent to a surface of a combustion device and configured to support a door adjacent to the surface of the combustion device; a first fastener configured to fasten the bracket to a first portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein a portion of the first fastener protrudes through the bracket, and wherein the bracket may be removed from the combustion device when the first fastener is partially fastened; and a second fastener configured to fasten the bracket to a second portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein the second fastener protrudes through the bracket when the bracket is positioned at the second portion of the surface of the combustion device.
 16. The combustion device of claim 15, wherein the first fastener, at least in part, secures a jacket to the combustion device.
 17. The bracket of claim 15, further comprising: a third fastener that extends at least from the door to the surface of the combustion device and that compresses the door and the first surface of the combustion device.
 18. A combustion device, comprising: bracketing means for supporting a door, wherein the bracketing means is adjacent to a surface of a combustion device; first fastening means for fastening the bracketing means to a first portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein a portion of the first fastening means extends through the bracketing means and wherein the bracketing means may be removed from the combustion device when the first fastening means is partially fastened; and second fastening means for fastening the bracketing means to a second portion of the surface of the combustion device, wherein the second fastening means protrudes through the bracketing means when the bracketing means is positioned at the second portion of the surface of the combustion device.
 19. The combustion device of claim 18, further comprising: sealing means for creating a substantial seal between the door and the surface of the combustion device, wherein the sealing means extends between the door and the surface of the combustion device.
 20. The combustion device of claim 19, wherein the second fastening means is configured to be able to release the bracketing means when the second fastening means is partially fastened. 